Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Mr Yoshiro Umemura, visiting from Sydney, gave an inspiring Sogetsu workshop on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July. Four themes were chosen from the current curriculum :Workshop 1: Intertwining plant materialsWorkshop 2: Repeating similar forms or shapes.

Workshop 3: An arrangement showing lines at the base.

Workshop 4: An arrangement designed to be viewed from all angles

And in between, dinner at Geppetto's restaurant, in Kew, gave some light relief from the hard work.

See the Sogetsu website for more pictures from the weekend http://sogetsuikebanavic.weebly.com/Diary dates :Don't forget there are two very interesting events on the horizon for all devotees of ikebana.The annual exhibition of the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International will feature arrangements from all schools, as well as demonstrations....

And in September 2014 Professor Hirotaka Furukawa will be visiting from Ikenobo headquarters.He will give a demonstration on Thursday 4th Sptember from 7 - 9.30 pm in the ballroom at Rippon Lea, 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick. $25On Saturday 6th September he will run an Ikenobo free-style workshop at the Tivoli German Club, 291 Dandenong Road, Windsor. All ikebana practitioners are welcome, $20Contact ikenobo.melbournevictoria@yahoo.com.au for further details and to book.

Friday, 11 July 2014

Ikebana International Melbourne Chapter is having an exhibition next month. It will be a wonderful opportunity to see arrangements by members from Ichiyo, Ikenobo, Ohara, Sogetsu and Shogetsudokoryu schools, as well as invite friends and family to enjoy demonstrations. See full details below. And last, but not least, there will be a children's workshop on Saturday the 16th August. Kids love working with flowers in a new way and will be able to take their arrangements home.Also on Saturday 16th August the monthly Gasworks market will be in full swing from 8.30 am until 1pm. Entry is free but you need to bring your own bags as it is a plastic-free event.

At the General Meeting on Tuesday 8th July Jane Sawyer, studio potter, told us about her two year apprenticeship in a Japanese pottery, Shussai-Gama, in the mid 80's. She trained in Sydney with Andrew Halford and later did a Masters degree in Melbourne with Prue Venables. Her work still centres on functional, everyday ware, such as platters and bowls. Her web-site is worth browsing for information about Jane, pictures of her work and details about the classes which she has organised at the Slow Clay Centre in Collingwood.www.janesawyer.com.au

Ikebana International members brought arrangements in favourite containers, some by artisan potters and others which they had made themselves.....

Toula Karanikolopoulos made this container herself, with her interest in ikebana uppermost....

Tricia Nicholls rescued this hand-made container from an op shop and has given it new life.

Other events on the horizon include an ikebana display in the hall of St Michael's Uniting Church, on the corner of Collins and Russell Streets, Melbourne, on Sunday 3rd August as part of the commemoration of Hiroshima Day.The next meeting on Tuesday August 12 will also be the Annual General Meeting. Following the meeting the Head of each School will prepare an arrangement using willow, a traditional material..Toorak Uniting Church Hall, 603 Toorak Road, Toorak (west side of the church), 10.30 am.